ADLESIC: HSLS MPS COULD GIVE NEW GOVT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - A vice-president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Djurdja Adlesic, said on Thursday HSLS parliamentary deputies could give a vote of confidence to the new government which no longer includes the HSLS. #L# "If Prime Minister Ivica Racan's claims about reducing the number of ministries and including more experts in his cabinet become a reality, we would be ready to give our vote of confidence to such a cabinet," Adlesic said in a radio talk-show. She noted that it was in fact the HSLS that had previously advocated less ministries. Becoming part of the Opposition does not mean that the HSLS will not support a minority government, Adlesic said, and added that her party would not make any problems if the Social Democratic Party (SDP) wanted to form a government without it, although the two parties had a joint list in the previous elections. Commenting on a suggestion by her party colleague Vilim Herman about legalising party factions, Adlesic said she did not oppose it, but had no time at present to think about that. "I am not heading any faction and am having a hard time trying to keep the party together," she said. Media have been speculating that Adlesic could head a faction which would try to neutralise party hard-liners. The faction would reportedly include MPs who voted in favour of the agreement on the Krsko nuclear power plant or abstained, as well as most of the incumbent HSLS government ministers. Adlesic would not comment on the possible exclusion of six party MPs, admitting that many of them were prominent party members, which would make the decision a difficult one. (hina) sp